Hair curling device and process



1955 RB. WHALEY 2,

HAIR CURLING DEVICE AND PROCESS Filed April 9, 1952 Fig.5

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INVENT United States Patent HAIR CURLING DEVICE AND PROCESS Ruth B. Whaley, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Application April 9, 1952, Serial No. 281,303 6 Claims. c1. 132-4 This invention relates to hair-waving equipment and more particularly to a scalp protector-rod securing device, and process for preparing hair for curling.

Heretofore, scalp protectors, such as described in U. S. Patent 2,055,008, have been used in conjunction with a curling rod clamp and clamp spacer, as shown in U. S. Patent 2,171,885. The usual procedure in hair curling, using these appliances, is to segregate the hair into tufts, slide a tuft of hair through the slot in the scalp protector until the scalp protector abuts the scalp, placing the clamp spacer on the protector, and rolling the hair on the rod which is finally clamped in the spacer and mechanically tightens the hair on the rod. Using this type of equipment, relatively high heat is applied to the rolled hair, which cannot be rolled close to the scalp, and which is tightly rolled; furthermore, much heat is lost due to the attraction of the relatively large mass of metal in the clamp spacer. I

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide in a single device, a scalp protector and rod securing means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described which will permit hair curling closer to thescalp thanprior art devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described which permits hair curling at lower temperatures than priorart devices. 7

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described which leaves the natural elasticity in the hair when heat curling.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for protecting the scalp and securing acurling rod without mechanicalwinding and metallic spacing.

A further-object of this invention is to provide a new and novel .process for preparing hair for cur1ing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a invention will be more apparent from reading the following specification, in conjunction with the drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the hair curling rod, with a tuft of hair;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the scalp protector rod securer with the curling rod partially positioned;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the scalp protector rod securer;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the scalp protector rod securer before stitching the elements thereof together;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the scalp protector rod securer with curling rod secured in curling position, parts removed for clarity; and,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 3, parts removed for clarity.

In the drawingwherein like members are given the same reference numeral, a curling rod 1 has a finger 2 pivotally' mounted thereon adjacent one end thereof and extending longitudinally along the rod 1. One end of the rod is provided with a stud projection 3 having an annular recess'4 thereon. The other end of the rod 1 and adjacent the pivot point of the finger 2 may have a longer stud projection 6 having an annular recess 7 thereon.

The scalp protector rod securer has a bottom member 8 of any suitable flexible non-metallic material, preferably heat insulating, such as felt faced rubber and asbestos fabric. It is highly desirable, if not essential, that the bottom member have a water impervious layer'adjacent the scalp; accordingly, this member can be rubber or resin impregnated, asbestos fabric, but it is'desired to provide an upper felt facing on this member. This bottom'memher 8 has a longitudinal slit '9 extending partlythe length I of the bottom member 8, preferably the central 75% to 88% section of the member 8. A flexible non-metallic insulator top member 11, preferably of waterproofed felt or asbestos fabric and of approximately the same size as the bottom member 8, is'provided with an elliptical slot '12 of approximately the same length as the slit 9 in the bottom member 8. Whereas, the bottom member slit 9 is substantially centrally positioned the top member elliptical slot 12 is preferably positioned off center so that an angular communication exists between the'two,.best illustrated in Fig. 6. Stitched to the top member are two rod securer tabs 14, positioned one at each end of the elliptical slot 12. These tabs 14 are preferably semifiexible and of any suitable material, flexible plastic tabs, rubber tabs have proved very satisfactory. These tabs 14 are provided with central apertures 15 with buttonhole stitching 16 therearound. The apertures 15 are so constructed and arranged to receive the rod projections 3 and 6 and fit snuglyjin the annular recesses 4 and 7 thereon, with the buttonhole stitching 16 frictionally holding the rod '1. Grip-projections 17 are provided on the outside of the securer tabs -14'for firm grip on the tabs when ones hands are wet, oily or otherwise slippery.

Positioned intermediate the top member 11 and bottom member 8 are overlapping water repellent center layers I8 and 19. Theselayers do not extend to the edgefof the top and bottom members. These overlapping center layers may be of any suitable flexible waterjrepellent material, but a closely woven waterproof treated fabric is most desirable. These center layers are preferably folded fabric to give a clean overlapping edge,'and are provided with stiffeners 21 positioned between the folds of the fabric. These stitfeners 21 may be of any suitable material, but synthetic resin impregnated felt has been found to be very'sa'tisfactory.

The topmember 11, bottom member 8, securer tabs 14, and central layers 18 and 19 are preferably stitched together, as illustrated by numeral 22, Fig. 2, but other means of fastening may be employed. In order to main tain the water repellent center layers 18 and 19 in proper overlapped position, the aforementioned mem'bersjare further stitched together by stitching 23 around'the elliptical slot 12 when thus assembled, the scalp protector rod securer has center layer 18 protruding through slot 9 in the bottom member 8, and center layer 19 overlapping layer 18 and protruding into the elliptical slot 12.

In operation the device is quite simple and efficient when employed in preparing hair for curling. A tuft of hair 24 is selected, and processing agent applied thereto, after which it is combed smooth. Gauze is applied over the ends of the hair tuft 24, and the curling rod 1, with finger 2 raised, placed against the gauze-covered hair tuft ends, while holding the tuft 24 up and away from the scalp. The tuft of hair 24 is then wound onto the curling rod 1 by rolling the rod 1 under the tuft 24 and towards the scalp to within approximately one inch of the scalp. The scalp protector rod securer is then positioned over the Patented Nov. 1,1955

rod 1 by slipping the rod 1, with finger 2 against the rolled tuft, through the slit 9 and elliptical slot 12, as illustrated in Fig. 2, with the center layer 19 protruding through slot 12, and extending away from the scalp. The scalp protector rod securer is firmly positioned against the scalp and directly over the roots of the tuft of hair being rolled. The rod 1 is then rolled close to the scalp protector and directly over the elliptical slot 12 and against the top member 11. The projections 3 and 6 of the rod 1 are then inserted in the apertures 15 of the securer tabs 14 and the annular recesses 4 and 7 receive the tabs 14 frictionally holding the rod 1 against rotation due to the stitching 16 binding the projections 3 and 6 at the recesses 4 and 7. The tuft of hair is now ready for processing with a low controlled heat.

Thus, by this process using the new and novel device of this invention, hair is prepared for curling without destroying the natural elasticity of the hair, and affords a method and means for curling hair by utilizing lower controlled temperatures than previously permitted by avoiding undue dissipation of heat to metallic parts, and permits curling hair closer to the scalp. The overlapping center layers with the hair tuft angular extending therebetween further protects the scalp at this point; and since the only metal employed is the curling rod, to which heat is directed, lower curling temperatures are employed, eliminating prior practices of boiling the hair; and also, the hair is not stretched by this process employing the device of this invention.

Because the tuft of hair is loosely wound to permit better penetration and there is no metallic heat dissipation, a curl can be given employing this device and process at temperature between 140 and 160 R, either by electric or chemical generation; whereas, theold process and devices required temperature over 212 F. and usually 300 to 400 F. were employed.

With this low temperature curling, it is necessary to cover or wrap the wound hair tuft with a parchment paper barrier. In high temperature curling this parchment barrier is used to protect the hair from burning, but in this low temperature curling, the parchment barrier is employed to prevent loss of the processing agent by vaporization until the rolled tuft is fully penetrated. This penetration is effected when the tuft is untaut, but is difficult when the tuft is tautly wound on a rod; the device here described permits even, uniform rolling of the tuft of hair without tautness.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by grant of Letters Patent 15:

1. A scalp protector rod securer for use in preparing hair for curling comprising a non-metallic bottom member, a slit in said bottom member, a non-metallic top member, a slot in said top member, center fabric layers overlapping said slit and slot, and apertured semi-flexible tabs positioned on said top member adjacent the ends of said slot.

' 2. A scalp protector rod securer for use in preparing hair for curling comprising a water repellent flexible nonmetallic bottom member, a slit in said bottom member,

a flexible non-metallic top member, a slot in said top member, overlapping flexible fabric center layers intermediate said top and bottom members and overlapping at said slit and slot, semi-flexible tabs adjacent the ends of said slot, apertures in said tabs to receive projections on the ends of a curling rod, and grip projections secured to said tabs.

3. A scalp protector rod securer for preparing hair for curling comprising a flexible rubber bottom member, a longitudinal slit in said bottom member, a felt top member, an elliptical slot in said top member positioned in longitudinal angular communication with said slit, over lapping central layers of water repellent material extending into said adjacent slit and slot respectively, tabs on said top member adjacent the ends of said slot, and apertures in said tabs adapted to receive the ends of a curling rod in frictional engagement.

4. A scalp protector rod securer for preparing hair for curling comprising a flexible water impervious bottom member, a longitudinal slit in said bottom member, a flexible heat insulating top member, a longitudinal slot in said top member in angular communication with said slit, central layers of water repellent fabric positioned intermediate said top and bottom member in a manner to overlap and position a portion of the top overlapped layer into said slot, a tab positioned on each end of said slot, and an aperture in said tab to receive the end of a curling rod in frictional engagement.

5. A process for curling hair comprising loosely winding a tuft of hair previously treated with processing agent onto a thermal conductor rod, positioning a non-thermal conductor scalp protector intermediate the loosely wound tuft of hair and the scalp, fastening said wound tuft against rotation, wrapping said wound tuft of hair with a parchment sheet, and heating said wrapped tuft at a temperature between F. and F.

6. A process for curling hair comprising the steps of combing a tuft of hair, applying processing agent thereto, covering the free ends of said tuft with gauze, loosely winding said tuft into a helical on a heat conducting rod, positioning an insulating scalp protector intermediate said wound tuft and the scalp, securing said rod against rotation, wrapping said wound tuft with a parchment sheet, and heating said tuft at a temperature between 140 F. and 160 F.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,400,637 Szlanyi Dec. 20, 1921 1,880,913 Dwyer Oct. 4, 1932 2,116,079 Moulin May 3, 1938 2,163,375 De la Garza June 20, 1939 2,171,885 Michael Sept. 5, 1939 2,268,500 Ashford Dec. 30, 1941 2,473,135 Bronson et al. June 14, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 376,952 Italy Dec. 1, 1939 

